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Effects of brimonidine timolol fixed combination therapy on anterior ocular segment configuration

  • Clinical Investigation
  • Published:
Japanese Journal of Ophthalmology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To assess the effects of brimonidine and of brimonidine and timolol fixed combination (BTFC) therapy on the pupil and angle structures in both normal subjects and in open angle glaucoma patients.

Methods

For the first study, 60 healthy normal subjects were divided into 2 groups. In group 1, brimonidine was administered to the right eye and timolol to the left eye. In group 2, a BTFC was administered to the right eye and pilocarpine 2% to the left eye. All subjects had a full ophthalmic examination including IOL master, ORB II scan and three times of Visante OCT both before and after instillation of the eyedrops. After testing, we analyzed the pupil size, anterior chamber depth and anterior chamber angle parameters including angle opening distance, trabecular-iris space area, angle recess area and trabecular-iris angle. In the second study, we evaluated the effects of BTFC therapy on the anterior chamber over time through reviewing ORB scan data of glaucoma patients who had instilled BTFC for at least 6 months (n = 126).

Results

Brimonidine and BTFC therapy caused miosis and widening of most of the anterior chamber angle parameters without changing the anterior chamber depth. The effects of BTFC on the angle were likely to be greater than those resulting from the use of pilocarpine. The miotic effects remained during instillation of BTFC.

Conclusion

Brimonidine and BTFC cause passive miosis with angle widening; these results could be applied in the treatment of various types of glaucoma.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the IN-SUNG Foundation for medical research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Joon Mo Kim & Mo Sae Kim

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, #28 Yongon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, Korea

    Ki Ho Park

  3. Department of Ophthalmology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Chan Yun Kim

  4. Department of Ophthalmology, Kim’s Eye Hospital, Konyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Hwang Ki Kim

  5. Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seong-nam, Korea

    Tae-Woo Kim

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  1. Joon Mo Kim
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  2. Ki Ho Park
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  3. Chan Yun Kim
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Correspondence to Ki Ho Park.

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Kim, J.M., Park, K.H., Kim, C.Y. et al. Effects of brimonidine timolol fixed combination therapy on anterior ocular segment configuration. Jpn J Ophthalmol 55, 356–361 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10384-011-0046-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10384-011-0046-y

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